Protocol describes the use of a basic water-based dye to stain for acid mucosubstances and acetic mucins located on the cartilage of fixed embryos, permitting the examination of cartilage formation. - [Read Cartilage Staining of Xenopus tropicalis Protocol]
Manual measurement and manipulation of the cell surface requires access to the cells, usually in an open chamber. Temperature-controlled chambers or stage inserts are preferred for maintaining physiological activity during the experiment. For example, heated culture dishes with coverslip glass bottoms (Bioptechs) permit high-resolution fluorescence microscopy of living cells during force application. - [Read Chambers for Examination of Live Cells under Mechanical Stress Protocol]
Method relies on the examination of the ear’s mechanics, which is actively modulated by the motility of auditory neurons and reflects the function of mechanosensory proteins these cells comprise [5-7]. Mechanical signatures arising from the motility of the neurons are assayed by measuring the vibrations of the antennal sound receiver in the presence and absence of sound. - [Read Mechanical Tracing of Protein Function in the Drosophila Ear Protocol]